Camllia plant named &#39;hb051&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Camellia  plant named ‘HB051’, characterized by its sturdy upright to outwardly branching plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; freely branching habit, dense and bushy appearance; large leathery dark green-colored leaves; long flowering period; light red purple-colored semi-double to peony-type form flowers; and good garden performance including tolerance to full sunlight conditions.

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION: Camellia hybrid.

CULTIVAR DENOMINATION: ‘HB051’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Camelliaplant, botanically known as Camellia hybrid, and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘HB051’.

The new Camellia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventors in Zhaoqing, China. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new fast-growing Camellia plants thatflower year-round and tolerate full sunlight.

The new Camellia plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted bythe Inventors in February, 2007 in Zhaoqing, China of an unnamedseedling selection of Camellia amplexicaulis, not patented, as thefemale, or seed, parent with Camellia hybrid ‘Scented Swirl’, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Camellia plant wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventors as a single plant from withinthe progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environmentin Zhaoqing, China in November, 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Camellia plant by grafting cuttings ontoan unnamed selection of Camellia gaozhouensis, not patented, in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Zhaoqing, China has shown that theunique features of this new Camellia plant are stable and reproducedtrue to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Camellia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such astemperature and light intensity without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘HB051’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘HB051’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofCamellia:

-   -   1. Sturdy upright to somewhat outwardly branching plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.    -   3. Freely branching habit, dense and bushy appearance.    -   4. Large leathery dark green-colored leaves.    -   5. Long flowering period.    -   6. Light red purple-colored semi-double to peony-type form        flowers.    -   7. Good garden performance, tolerant to full sunlight        conditions.

Plants of the new Camellia differ from plants of the female parentselection primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Camellia are slightly smaller        than and not as glossy as leaves of plants of the female parent        selection.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Camellia are semi-double to        peony-type in form whereas flowers of the female parent        selection are single in form.

Plants of the new Camellia differ primarily from plants of the maleparent, ‘Scented Swirl’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Camellia are larger than leaves        of plants of ‘Scented Swirl’.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Camellia are semi-double to        peony-type in form whereas flowers of ‘Scented Swirl’ are single        in form.    -   3. Plants of the new Camellia flower for a longer period of time        than plants of ‘Scented Swirl’.

Plants of the new Camellia can be compared to the plants of Camelliahybrid ‘Golden Purple Crown’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisonsplants of the new Camellia differ from plants of the ‘Golden PurpleCrown’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Camellia are larger than leaves        of plants of ‘Golden Purple Crown’.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Camellia are semi-double to        peony-type in form whereas flowers of ‘Golden Purple Crown’ are        peony-type in form.    -   3. Plants of the new Camellia flower for a longer period of time        than plants of ‘Golden Purple Crown’.

Plants of the new Camellia can be compared to the plants of Camelliajaponica ‘Covina’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons plants ofthe new Camellia differ from plants of the ‘Covina’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Camellia are larger than leaves        of plants of ‘Covina’.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Camellia are semi-double to        peony-type in form whereas flowers of ‘Covina’ are semi-double        to rose-double in form.    -   3. Plants of the new Camellia flower for a longer period of time        than plants of ‘Covina’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Camellia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Camellia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘HB051’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph on the second sheet are close-up views of the upper andlower surfaces of a typical leaf, a typical terminal vegetative branch,a typical terminal branch with developing flower buds, a typicaldeveloping flower bud and a typical terminal branch with a fully openflower of ‘HB051’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown in Zhaoqing, China in ground beds inan outdoor nursery during the autumn and under cultural practicestypical of commercial Camellia production. During the production of theplants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 33° C. and nighttemperatures ranged from 11° C. to 26° C. Plants were six years old whenthe photographs and description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Camellia hybrid ‘HB051’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed seedling selection of            Camellia amplexicaulis, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Camellia hybrid ‘Scented Swirl’,            not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By grafting cuttings onto a rootstock, an unnamed            selection of Camellia gaozhouensis, not patented.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            months days at temperatures about 28° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            months days at temperatures about 8° C.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial evergreen shrub;            sturdy upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit; rapid            growth rate.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit; about two primary            lateral branches each with about two to three secondary            branches; dense and bushy appearance.        -   Plant height.—About 213 cm.        -   Plant diameter, area of spread.—About 151 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 112 cm. Diameter:            About 1.2 cm. Internode length: About 2.1 cm. Strength:            Strong. Aspect: Upright to about 25° to 35° from vertical.            Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy; woody with            development. Color, young stems: Close to 144A. Color, older            stems: Close to N199C.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, single. Length:            Large, about 10.1 cm. Width: About 3.9 cm. Shape: Oblong.            Apex: Cuspidate. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Serrate. Venation            pattern: Pinnate, arcuate. Texture and luster, upper            surface: Smooth, glabrous; leathery; moderately glossy.            Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous;            leathery; matte. Color: Developing leaves, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 179C. Fully expanded leaves, upper            surface: Close to 139A; venation, close to 144A; color does            not change during the autumn. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 146B; venation, close to N144A; color does            not change during the autumn.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture            and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            leathery; matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and appearance.—Semi-double to peony-type            rotate flowers, flowers terminal and axillary; freely            flowering habit with usually about 874 flowers and flower            buds developing per plant; flowers face mostly outwardly.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Camellia flower            year-round in Zhaoqing, China.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Plants maintain good flower            substance for about three to four days on the plant; flowers            persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower diameter.—About 10.3 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 5.2 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 1.8 cm.            Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;            leathery; matte. Color: Close to 146A.        -   Petals and petaloids.—Quantity and arrangement: About 28 to            30 imbricate petals and petaloids arranged in numerous            whorls. Length: About 4.5 cm to 4.8 cm. Width: About 2.4 cm            to 2.6 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Retuse. Base: Cuneate.            Margin: Entire; slightly to moderately undulate. Texture and            luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; silky;            matte. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface:            Close to between 65B and 68A; venation, close to between 65C            and 68B; color becoming closer to 68A with development. When            opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to between            65B and 68A; venation, close to between 65C and 68B; color            becoming closer to 68A with development.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: About four imbricate            sepals arranged in an ovate-shaped calyx. Length: About            9 mm. Width: About 1.6 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base:            Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; leathery; matte. Color:            When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 137A.            When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to            N144A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Aspect:            About 20° to 30° from stem axis. Strength: Strong. Texture            and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to N137C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity per flower:            About 84. Filament length: About 2.6 cm. Filament color:            Close to 49B. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther size:            About 1 mm by 1.4 mm. Anther color: Close to 8A. Pollen            amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 8A. Gynoecium:            Quantity of pistils per flower: About five to six. Pistil            length: About 2.2 cm. Style length: About 1.8 cm. Style            color: Close to 2D. Stigma diameter: About 3 mm. Stigma            color: Close to 2D. Ovary color: Close to 10A.        -   Fruits and seeds.—Fruit and seed production have not been            observed on plants of the new Camellia to date.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Camellia have been observed    have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind, full    sunlight and temperatures ranging from about 3° C. to about 32° C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Camellia have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Camellia    plants to date.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Camellia plant named‘HB051’ as illustrated and described.